|
800-391-8762 | View Cart | My Account | Help | Wishlist | Gift Center | Catalog Quick Order | Canadian Customers | |
|
||
|
Browse
Musical Instruments
Pro Audio
Other Departments
Resources
Company
 |
 Gibson Custom Shop Guitars Handcrafted instruments of impeccable quality!
What really distinguishes the Custom Shop is the skill and pride of its luthiers. As each guitar is made, it moves through stations where it is cut, routed, shaped, glued, inlaid, scraped, lacquered, sanded, buffed, fitted with hardware, and set up. At each stage, a skilled artisan hand performs his or her particular task. Watch them and you quickly see how skilled they are, and how focused and intense they are on their work. They don't take shortcuts at the Custom Shop. Building the interior of a hollow body guitar is done with painstaking care, even though it is a part of the guitar that no one ever sees. Necks are shaped by hand. Bindings are finished by careful hand scraping. These are operations that take time and great care, but they result in an instrument of impeccable quality. Applying a guitar's finish is an especially critical stage. Most companies now use urethane, because it's easier to apply and requires fewer coats. Gibson, however, has stayed with cellulose lacquer finishes, even though they must be applied in multiple thin layers and carefully sanded between each new coat. It is demanding and labor intensive but it results in a finish that enhances tone, ages to become more integral to the instrument over time, and buffs out to a more lustrous finish. Choosing the best way over the easy or economical way characterizes the entire Custom Shop operation. Two lines of guitars are made at the Custom Shop, the "Historic Collection" which consists of vintage reissues and the "Custom Collection" which are extensions of classic designs incorporating structural advancements that heighten performance.
From the Historic Collection we feature three selections from the Historic Collection. Two are vintage Les Pauls. First is the legendary '56 Les Paul Goldtop, prized by collectors as a rare gem. The Custom Shop has re-created it here in painstaking detail, down to the '56 neck profile and the original Les Paul extended tenon joint. Classic P-90s give it the sound that launched the Les Paul legend. The second Paul is the elegant '58 Figured Top with its beautifully grained maple top. Powerful '57 classic PAF reissue pickups provide vintage tone to die for. The big star among this year's Historic models is the Custom Shop's reissue of the 1959 Korina Flying V. Its radical V-shaped body has been one of the most imitated of all time, but this Custom Shop version puts even the best copies to shame. It replicates the original in precise detail. The body and neck are constructed of premium selected korina and crafted to a finish that is the hallmark of the Gibson Custom Shop. If you're interested in the real thing - a true classic guitar at its best - here it is.
First is Gibson's ES-336. It is essentially a redesigned ES-335, with some very cool refinements. It has a slightly smaller body than the 335 to make handling easier. The hand-carved maple top and one-piece mahogany body give it enhanced sustain. It also features a sleek, straight-pull headstock design that is a fairly radical variation from the 335, and one that makes tuning more stable. Neck and bridge humbuckers give it that famous tone that's at home in jazz, rock, or blues. Two Custom Les Pauls also join the lineup, and both are elegant, high-powered, and unique versions of the classics. The Florentine features a semi-hollow body with a solid-through-the-center mahogany back that gives it extra resonance and sustain. It's also totally decked out. If you're a sucker for sheer guitar beauty, this is a guitar you won't be able to resist. The second is the Elegant, a classic solid body with dynamic sound chambers designed in. It also utilizes a compound radius fingerboard and expanded tenon neck joint - features that make it super responsive and fast.
Two of Gibson's hottest Signature models headline the Custom Series selections. First is the Peter Frampton Les Paul. One of the most radical ever, it features a hollowed back and three humbuckers wired to Frampton's specifications. The result is incredible resonance and tone. The second heavy-hitter is the Zakk Wylde Les Paul, complete with bullseye paint job, high-powered EMG pickups, an oiled raw maple neck - just the way Zakk's guitar is set up for sonic overkill. If heavy metal is your style and Zakk is your man, you'll appreciate this guitar's deadly refinements. If it's your time for a truly special instrument, take a good look at these Custom Shop creations. No matter which is your choice, you'll find it an instrument of incredible quality, one to treasure for a lifetime. Talk to Musician's Friend. They'll make you a truly remarkable deal.
It's your time for a truly special guitar, invest in a Custom Shop Gibson and enjoy the finest the guitar world has to offer.
|
Current Deals
Special Finance Offer
Free Catalog
 Resources
Media Center
 Digital Distribution
Musicians' Support
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Entire contents Copyright © 2010 Musician's Friend Inc. Musician's Friend is a registered trademark of Musician's Friend Inc. All Rights Reserved. Publisher does not accept liability for incorrect spelling, printing errors (including prices), incorrect manufacturer's specifications or changes, or grammatical inaccuracies in any product included in the Musician's Friend catalog or website. Prices subject to change without notice. Top Of Page |